Asos co-founder Quentin Griffiths dies after fall from 17th-floor suite in Thailand
Quentin Griffiths, a co-founder of the online retailer asos, has been found dead after falling from a high-rise suite in the Thai seaside city of Pattaya. The development is notable both for its human tragedy and for the questions it raises about the final days of a figure involved in early internet retail success.
Asos co-founder named; police outline scene and medical findings
Thai police have named Quentin Griffiths as the man found dead on the ground outside a luxury hotel in Pattaya on 9 February. Investigators described Griffiths as a British passport holder who had been staying long-term in a seventeenth-floor suite. At the time of the discovery, his room was locked from the inside and officers reported no trace of any break-ins. An autopsy did not reveal any evidence of foul play, and authorities said he had been by himself when he died.
Background: asos origins, Griffiths' role and current legal context
Griffiths co-founded asos in 2000 and left the company five years later, though he remained a significant shareholder after his departure. The business began as a concept tied to fashion seen on screen and expanded into a broad online fashion marketplace that stocked hundreds of brands as well as its own lines. At one point, the company’s valuation exceeded £6 billion.
Griffiths had been involved in two ongoing court cases that police said might have contributed to stress in his recent life. He was separated from his second wife, who is a Thai national, and had reportedly been engaged in a legal dispute with her over a business they ran together. These legal matters formed part of the context investigators highlighted while examining the circumstances around his death.
Response and what comes next
An Asos spokesperson expressed sadness at the loss and acknowledged Griffiths’ role in the company’s early days, noting appreciation for his contribution. A government foreign office contact was handling consular support for the family as local authorities continued routine inquiries. With the autopsy not indicating foul play and the scene showing no obvious signs of forced entry, investigators appear to be treating the matter as a non-criminal death while customary inquiries continue.
Legacy and wider implications
Griffiths’ place among the founding team sits alongside the names of other early collaborators who launched the business at the turn of the century. The firm’s trajectory from a niche idea into a major online marketplace underscores the role early co-founders played in shaping the modern fashion e‑commerce landscape. The passing of a founder who remained a significant shareholder after leaving executive duties highlights how personal, legal and financial pressures can intersect, especially for individuals still tied to companies with sizable valuations and complex ownership structures.
Details in this developing story remain tied to ongoing local inquiries and legal processes. Further factual updates may emerge as investigators conclude their routine work and as family and legal contacts provide additional information.
